Counter mechanism



. 50 an intermediate position;

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 PATENT OFFICE v COUNTER. MEQHANISM William L. Tancred, Hartford, Conn., assigner to Voeder-Root Incorporated, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 2, 1932,A semi No. 117,721

7 Claims.

This invention relates to counter mechanisms. It has among its objects to provide an improved' counter mechanism for use with dispensing apparatus; and particularly such an improved mechanism having improved' means for interrupting the dispensing operation when a predetermined count has been reached.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved predetermined mechanism successively operative at predetermined points in a 'counting operation.

A still further object is to provide an improved predetermined counter mechanism having improved controlling means forthe counter drive, and more particularly such means adapted to interrupt the drive at predetermined intervals and adapted to be manually reestablished and continue the count. i

Still another object is to provide an improved mechanism of this type having improved con'- trolling means automatically operating with a snap action and controlling the circuit of the counter driving motor. n l

A yet further object is to provide an improved predetermined counter mechanism of the resettable type, especially adapted for use with a motor driven dispensing' device for insuring'that the circuit of. the motor will be open during the resetting operation.. These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear. In the accompanying drawing, one form of the invention is shown for purposes vof illustration.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation' of part of a gasoline 35 dispensing computer equipped with these im'- provements, only one of the quantity counters together with. its counting and resetting drive trains being shown and the controlled switch being shown in open position; l

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the structure of Figure l; Fig. 3 is a detail view ot the predetermining mechanism of Figure 1 with the switch inv closed position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken on line 4-14of Figure 2, showing parts of the predetermining mechanism and also showing the coop-I erating elements of the counter resetting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the vparts in Fig. 6 -is a detailsectional view on' line Figurefl; l

Fig. 'l is a perspective view partly in section showing the spring connection between the index- 55 ing wheel and the highest counter wheel, and

F1g.8 is a simplified, somewhat diagrammatic view of a gasoline dispensing pump with these Iimprovements. ii f3 In this drawing, the improved predetermining 00 mechanism is illustrated in connection with one i 6--6 of (Cl. '23S-132) of the quantity, or gallons, counters 'A in a well known gasoline dispensing computer, 'the fractionalgallons wheel la of which has a gear I fixed thereto which is driven through a train of gears 2, 3, 4 and 5 from'a shaft 6 and connected to the usual fluid meter 6a which receives iluid from a usual pump 6b, driven by the usual electric motor 6c. 'I'he lowest order wheel Ia is operatively connected with units wheel 1 of the counter by usual locking transfer mechanism including the intermediate pinion 8, and the tens wheel 9 is similarly connected to the units wheel 1, Whereby the rotations of each lower order wheel are transferred to the next higher order Wheel in the usual manner; the several counter wheels being freely rotatable on an axial shaft IIJ, herein a supporting and resetting shaft, journaled in the side frames Il and l2 for purposes'hereinafter tdescribed in connection with resetting of the counter.

In accordance with the present invention, improved predetermining counter mechanism associated with the tens wheel 9 of the counter A is provided for controlling an electric switch I3 in the circuit I4 of motor Ic. As in a usual construction,h a transverse shaft I5 is journaled in the sideframes II and I2 parallel to the shaft I0, onwhich the gear 2 of .the counter driving train is journaled. This shaft has acollar I6 pinned to its other end carrying a horizontally extended switch actuating arm Il which is pivotally connected by a rod I8 to a link I9 of the switch I3, herein shown as a toggle type switch, the other link of which is pivoted to link I9 atthe fixed center 2| and carries the spaced movable contacts 22 which cooperate with the stationary spaced contacts 23. A spring 24 is provided to connect the links I9 and 20 across the pivot 2l, relative to which the links I9 and 20 are adapted to occupy DOsi'tions disposing the spring .on opposite sides of the center 2 I as shown in Figures l and 3 in the open and-closed positions of the switch;

The improved predetermining mechanism for Acontrolling the switch actuating arm Il comprises an indexing lever 25, xed to a hub 26 which is pinned to the shaft I5 on the opposite side of the side frame I2 from theswitch actuating arm I1, thearm Il and the indexing lever being movable in unison with the shaft I, 5. 'I'he indexing lever 25 carries, at its free end, a 1 xed pin or stud 21, herein having a flat face 21a. 'I'he stud 21 cooperates with the teeth,for cams, 28 of an indexing wheel 29 journaled on the reduced portion of a collar 3i which is pinned to the counter resetting shaft I0, the indexing wheel 29 being provided with ten teeth 28 corresponding. to the numeral positions onthe tens .wheel 9, each having an inclined cam face 28a and an angularly related radial face 28h;

In the normal position of the parts, in which the switch actuating lever I1 is horizontally disposed (Fig. 3), the indexing stud 21 is disposed in the bottom of the V-shaped notch 32 between adjacent teeth 28, which limits the movement of the indexingarm 25 and consequently limits the movement of the switch I3 in the closing movement of the latter underthe action of spring 24. The indexing arm 25 also has a projection 33 at its free end providing an abutment for engaging the transfer pinion shaft 34journaled in the side frame I2 andacting as an abutment for limiting the movement of the indexing arm and the switch I3 as the latter is moved to open position under the action of its spring 24.

'Ihe indexing wheel 29 is operatively connected with the tens order wheel 9 by a pin and slot connection comprising the headed pin 35 fixed in a plate 36 carried by the number wheel 9. The pin 35 is extended through an arcuate slot 31 in the indexing wheel 29 with its head 38 Aspaced from the outer face of the indexing wheel to receive one hooked end of a C-shaped spring 40, the other end of which has its oppositely hooked portion 4I engaged with a pin 42 fixed in the indexing wheel 29 adjacent the slot 31.

It will thus be evident that when the tens wheel 9 is rotated a tenth of a revolution by the transfer pinion 8 to indicate that ten gallons have been dispensed, this movement is transmitted in the same direction to the indexing wheel 29 through the resilient connection provided by the spring 49. During this movement of the indexing wheel 29, the indexingarm 25 and the switch actuating arm I1 are rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, by the camming action of the inclined portion 28a oi.' the adjacent tooth 28 on the indexing wheel 29, until the indexing arm reaches the position shown in Figure 5 in which the spring 24 of switch I3 has reached an over-center position. As the switch moves from its closed position, shown in Figure 3, into its open position, shown in Figure 1, under the action of spring 24, the indexing arm 25 is moved into the position shown in Figure 1 in which its abutment 33 is in, engagement with shaft 34. As the stud 21 leaves the inclined portion 28a of the indexing wheel 29, the latter is moved ahead, under the action of the stressed spring 40, to

bring the next notch 32 into position under the.

stud 21. It will be noted that in this position of the parts, the stud 21 is out of the path of the teeth 28 of the indexing wheel. The circuit to the motor 6c now being interrupted, the parts will remain in this position and no more gasoline can be dispensed until the operator manually closes the switch I3 by depressing the switch handle 44 to move the parts into the position shown in Figure 3.

Means are also provided for resetting the counter wheels of counter A in av usual manner. Herein, the resetting means includes a transverse re'- setting shaft 45, journaled in the side frames II and I2 directly above a shaft 45a of the counter drive, coaxial with the counter driving gears 3 and 4. and having operative connections 46 at both ends adapted to receive a reset operating wing nut. 'Ihe shaft 45 has a gear 41 fixed thereto just outside the side frame II, which meshes with a gear 48 fixedY to shaft 45a. 'I'he gear 48 has connected therewith a gear 49 which meshes with an intermediate gear 50 journaled on shaft I5 which, in turn, meshes with a gear 5I, angularly adjustably fixed to the axial resetting shaft I 0 of the counter A. The shaft I0 is provided with the usual longitudinal resetting groove 52 which is adapted to cooperate with resetting pawls 53 in the several counter wheels, one of which is shown in Figure 4. It will be understood that when the shaft 45 is rotated to rotate the axialshaft I0 in the proper direction, herein the counting direction, each of the counting wheels la, 1 and 9 will be picked up by its resetting pawl 53 and rotated in a counting direction to zero; a clutch connected element 53a, fixed to shaft 45a, then slipping in a well known manner relative to a cooperating clutch element 53h carried by the gear 4.

As shown herein, the predetermined counter of this invention is designed to operate the switch I3 to open the motor circuit 6c whenever III gallons have been dispensed or, in the case of a. dispensing operation involving more than ten gallons, to open the switch upon reaching any multiple of ten gallons, as, for example, at ten gallons, twenty gallons, thirty gallons, and so forth. Assuming that the counter A has been reset to zero, and the switch I3 has been closed by manually depressing the switch handle 44, the predetermining mechanism will be in the position shown in Figure 3 and the switch I3 being closed, will permit pump 6b to be operated. As gasoline is dispensed, the fractional wheel Ia will be rotated by the meter drive including the shaft 3, bevel gears 4 and 5, and the drive train including gears 3, 2 and I,' the rotation of this lowest order wheel Ia being transferred to the units wheel 1 through the transfer mechanism, and from the units wheel 1 through the transfer mechanism to the tens wheel 9, in the usual manner. As transfer takes place from the units wheel 1 to the tens wheel 9 to rotate the latter from its zero position to its I position, thus indicating that ten gallons have been dispensed, the plate 35, carried by tens wheel 9, will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 and will move the pin 35 upwardlyvin the slot 31 to stress the spring 40. When the parts have reached the position shown in Figure 5, the spring 24, which has now passed into an over-center position, acts on the indexing arm 25 through the linkage described to move this arm with a snap action into the position shown in Figure 1 which corresponds to the open position of switch I3.

If the operator wishes to dispense more than ten gallons, he can manually depress the handle 44 to close the motor switch I3, when the stud 21 will enter the next notch 32 on the indexing'wheel 29 which will permit another ten gallons to be dispensed. It will be noted that during the switch closing movement, due to the flat face 21a of stud 21 and the radial face 28h of the adjacent tooth on indexing wheel 29, the stud is able to move into the bottom of notch 32 without moving -the number wheel 9, When the total amount dispensed reaches 20 gallons, the indexing wheel 29 will again trip out the switch I3, as described above, and the operator will again manually close the switch ifhe wishes to continue dispensing, The dispensing operation can be continued indefinitely as long as the operator manually closes the switch I 3 following each ten gallon increment dispensed.

Following a dispensing operation and prior to the next sale, the operator resets the counter A by rotating the shaft 45 by either of the operative connections 46. If the amount dispensed was ten gall ns or any multiple of ten gallons, the indexing arm 25 will, following dispensing, be in the switch open position shown in Figure 1 in which its stud 21 is out of contact with the indexing wheel 29. If the amount dispensed should be less than ten gallons or less than some multiple of ten gallons, the predetermining mechanism, following dispensing, will occupy the position shown in Figure 3. In this case, upon picking up the tens order wheel 9 by the rotation of the counter resetting shaft I0, the stud 21 will -be cammed out of the notch 32 upon the initial rotation of the number wheel 9 in a resetting direction, thus immediately to trip the switch il and cause the same to move to its open position, shown in Figure 1, in which the indexing arm 25 with the stud 21 are out of the path of the indexing wheel 29.

As a result of the present invention, it will be evident that a simple and effective predetermining mechanism has been provided for interrupting the motor circuit of a liquid dispensing device following the dispensing of a predetermined quan- -tity of liquid. Further, it will benoted that, by reason of the improved construction, the motor circuit is also automatically interrupted in the resetting movement of the counter, if it has not already been interrupted automatically by reason of the operation resulting from the quantity of liquid dispensed. Further, the advantage of this device to the operator will -be apparent where even ten gallon quantities are to be dispensed. Further, the value of this invention in connection with gasoline dispensing apparatus will be evident when it is considered that, by reason of the automatic interruption of the dispensing operation at regular intervals, it is impossible forl a large lamoun-t of gasoline to be accidentally dischanged outside the tank of a vehicle so as to cause a serious fire risk.

While I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a counter having a rotatable number wheel, predetermining mechanism associated therewith including a cam member rotatable with said number wheel and having a lost motion connection therewith and a cam follower cooperating with said cam member, said cam member having a plurality of cams thereon corresponding to numeral positions on said number wheel, said cam follower being successively opervable to inoperative position by the cams on said i' counting operation, and means for reconditioning said predetermining mechanism following the successive operations thereof, said cam member having v'a resilient lost motion connection with said highest order wheel.

3. A Apredetermined counter including a plurality of operatively connected number wheels, means for driving-the lowest order. wheel. predetermining mechanism associated with the highest order wheel including a cam member rotatable with the latter wheel having a series of cams thereon corresponding to numeral positions on said wheel and a cam follower successively oper- .ative by said cams during a counting operation, and means for reconditioning said predetermining mechanism following each successive operation thereof, said cam member having a resilient lost motion connection with said highest order wheel, and said cam follower being biased from an oncenter position either into engagement with said cam member when between adjacent cams thereon, or wholly out of 'engagement therewith following an` operation thereby.

4. A predetermined counter including a plurality of operatively connected number wheels, means for driving the lowest order wheel, predetermining mechanism associated with the highest order wheel including a cam member rotatable with the latter wheel having a series of cams thereon corresponding to numeral positions on said wheel and a cam follower operated successively by'said cams during a counting operation, means for reconditioning said vpredetermining mechanism following each successive operation thereof, said cam member having a resilient lost motion connection with said highest order wheel,

and said cam follower being biased from an oncenter position either into engagement with said cam member when between adjacent cams thereon, or out of engagement therewith following operation thereby, and means for limiting the movement of said cam follower in its movement away from said cam member.

5. In a counter, a numeral wheel, a predetermining mechanism associated with said numeral wheel and including a cam member rotatable therewith, a cam follower adapted to be operated bysaid cam during a vcounting operation, said cam member having a resilient lost motion connection with said numeral wheel.

6. In a counter, a numeral wheel, predetermining mechanism associated with said numeral wheel and including a cam member rotatable with the latter wheel, and a cam follower operated by said cam durlng'a counting operation, said cam having a resilient lost motion connection with said numeral wheel, and said cam follower being biased from a non-center position either into engagement with said cam member or wholly out of engagement therewith following an operation thereby. y

7. In a counter, a numeral wheel, a shaft on which said wheel is rotatably mounted, prede- .termining mechanism associated with said wheel and including a cam member having a series of cams rotatably mounted on said shaft, means -connecting said cam to said wheel for simultaneous rotation therewith and including ka pin on said wheel adapted to extend through an eloning a predetermined rotation thereof, whereby said cam spring means will advance said cam to its normal position relative to the numeral wheel.

WILLIAM L. TANCRED. 

